St. Landry democrat., 1887-10-01
A CENTURY'S GROWTH.
CELEBRATING THE FRAMING OF
THE CONSTITUTION,

ihe treat Industrial Parade in the City of
Brotherly Love-Thousands of People
View it-Beautiful Tableaux and Mag
nifcent Floats-Army and Navy Day.
Philadelphia was crowded with visitors
to the Constitutional Celebration. The
President of the United States was there,
and so were the governors of the orig
lnal thirteen States, and also many dis
tlnguished foreigners. The army and
navy were represented and the militia
were out In force. Bunting and flags
decorated the house fronts, arches reached
from sidewalk to sidewalk, and bands of
music filled the air with patriotic tunes.
The first day was devoted to an in
dustrial parade. 1t started at half past
ten o'clock in the morning, was in
motion until five o'clock, and will never
be forgotten by the unfortunate
people who got damned on side
street, and had to stand for hours with
out being able to move except from one
foot to the other. So interminable was
the procession that even the persons who
had seats were tired before it was half
over. The industrial exhibit was re-
lieved by tableaux illustrating the growth
of the United States from thirteen States
to thirty-eight. The route of procession
lay along Broad street, and in this part
| of the city the houses were nearly hid by
| the decorations, some of which were
most beautiful and unique. One of the
Odd Fellows Hall, announcing that place
as the spot where Franklin drew light
| ming from the clouds in 1862.
The head of the procession, led by a
Gordon of mounted policemen, reached
the City Hall, Broad and Market streets,
at 11.40. The crowd was so immense at
this point that the police had great diff
Guilty in driving it back. The Patri-
otto Order of Sons of America, having
on one of their floats education is the
Basis of Freedom" attracted great atten-
ton, as did also the Continental Club, of
Wilmington, Del, in their ancient cos
tunes. All of the floats were tastefully
decorated, and all of the agricultural
and other machinery was in full motion.
Notable among the floats were those
representing the advancement in civil
ization of the red man. There were ex-
libited Indians in their paint and feath-
ers, children from training and edu-
cational institutions, all employed at
the various industries, and showing
remarkable degree of skill. Behind them
came the Indian band of nineteen pieces
and nine platOons of Indian cadets,
who marched with unerring step amid
the cheers and huZzas Of thousands of
Threats. AS they passed the reviewing
stand they fairly captured its occupants,
who cheered themselves hoarse. 1t was
indeed the feature of the pageant. The
parade illustrated the advancement of
the industrial arts and sciences during
the past century, and, it is believed, fairly
eclipsed anything of the kind ever
known. There were in line 800 floats,
each bearing a representation of some
particular branch of industry, 10000
men, 5000 horses and $50 bands of music.
At the head of the column rode Colonel
A. Louden Snowden, chief marshal, and
his staff of fifty aids, a Standard bearer
and two trumpeters. Directly behind
them, and leading the column itself, was
the United States Marine Band, followed
by a grand banner representing Columbia
pointing to the past with one hand and
with the other to the present, the former
being represented by old implements and
conditions; the latter by those of to-day,
indicating progress. The banner typi-
fed the demonstration, and was drawn
on car by six horses.
The display from this point was di-
vided into twentythree divisions each
being under the charge and supervision
of an assistant marshal and several aids.
The honor of heading the first division
was given to the Patriotic Order of the
Sons of America, who presented beau
tiful display. 1t was headed by gayly-
decorated wagon bearing banners with
notices emblematic of the order. Fol
lowing this float came band and several
tableauX on floats, typical Of events dur
ing the revolution, aud representing the
different nations which make up Ameri-
cas- population in native costumes; a
beautiful temple, handsomely decorated,
with thirty-eight ladies at the portal,
representing the States of the Union;
Uncle Sam" the Goddess of Liberty
and the thirteen original States, repre-
sented by daughters of America, in cos
tune, and float on which stood repre-
sensations of the schoolhonses of
century ago and those of to-day,
surrounded by school children. The
remaindetof this division was made up
of the national and State officers, in
Guiding the national and State executive
committees in full regalia, and visiting
camps of Sons of America. The re-
manning divisions were made up of the
trades and various societies. One of the
largest and most complete divisions was
that of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany. The progress in the mode of
travelling from the revolutionary era to
the presenttime was fully and graphically
presented. On the numerous floats in
this division were pack mules, genuine
Conestoga wagon, a Concord coach, a
representation of canal service, seven
civil engineers in uniform, delineating
the first step in the construction OF
railway line, men laying rails and bal
+al, - tools wooden